HMAS Polaris

Career (Australia)
Name:	Southern Cross Star
Builder:	W.L. Holmes and Co. Sydney
Career (Australia)
Name:	HMAS Polaris (FY 63)
Honours and awards:	Battle honours: New Guinea 1942–43
General characteristics
Displacement:	33 tons
Length:	60 feet (18 m)
Beam:	17 feet (5.2 m)
Draught:	10 feet (3.0 m)
Speed:	12 knts

HMAS Polaris was a trawler requistioned by the Royal Australian Navy in 1942 as a survey tender.

Construction

Built by W.L. Holmes and Co. Sydney

Service

Polaris was commissioned in November 1942 as a surveying tender and joined the small survey task force in Papua New Guinea in company with HMA Ships Whyalla and Stella. Their first job was to survey the sea route from Milne Bay to Oro Bay, Papua and they came under attack from Japanese bombers off Cape Nelson on 2 January 1943. Polaris was paid off on 5 November 1945 and returned to her owners.

Polaris was awarded the battle honour "New Guinea 1942–43".^[1][2]

Notes